WESTFIR OREGON News and Blog

She married
John Madarus on Nov. 17,
1947, in Vancouver,
Washington. The couple
lived in several Oregon
communities such as:
Westfir, Klamath Falls,
Madras, Scio, Roseburg
and then to Idanha in
1962. They couple settled
to Salem in 1983. Mary
worked in ...

She married
John Madarus on Nov. 17,
1947, in Vancouver,
Washington. The couple
lived in several Oregon
communities such as:
Westfir, Klamath Falls,
Madras, Scio, Roseburg
and then to Idanha in
1962. They couple settled
to Salem in 1983. Mary
worked in ...

Safety and
tourism funds for, among
other cities, the Baker
City area, Oakridge,
Westfir and a trail
between Elgin and Joseph.
The Cycle Oregon Fund has
awarded $1.6 million-plus
since 1996. The Cycle
Oregon event itself
attracts around 2,000
riders yearly.

About an hour
later, Jerry L. Lossing,
66, of Oakridge was
killed when he lost
control of his gray Honda
Accord and collided
head-on with another
vehicle on West Oak Road
in Westfir, Oregon State
Police said. Lossing was
traveling east when he
failed to ...

Oakridge, Ore. –
Oregon State Police (OSP)
troopers are continuing
the investigation into
this morning’s
fatal traffic crash on
West Oak Road in the city
of Westfir near Oakridge.
Preliminary
investigations indicates
that at approximately
7:55 a.m., a ...

Just before 8 a.m., Jerry
L. Lossing, 66, lost
control of his Honda
Accord while trying to
negotiate a curve on West
Oak Road in Westfir,
according to Oregon State
Police. The Honda moved
into oncoming traffic,
colliding with a
westbound Toyota
RAV-4.

Westfir,
Oregon offers great
vacation house rental and
home rental-by-owner
deals for the
knowledgeable traveler.
No matter what budget or
level of comfort you seek
in your holiday to
Westfir, OR, there's
surely a great local
vacation home rental
available ...

Arleen Mary
Andringa, 86, passed away
at her home of a
pulmonary embolism ...
Wisconsin. Arleen moved
to Corvallis, Oregon with
her husband, John, who
enrolled in forestry
school at Oregon State
University. The young
couple started their
family ...

A pair of
fires in the complex near
Westfir blew up on
Wednesday, spreading past
their containment lines,
she said. Firefighters
are bracing for similar
fire behavior today,
which could lead to more
smoke in Central Oregon.
As of Wednesday morning
the half ...

Troy
Gotchy. The reporting
party said Dana Alaine
Harriger, 32, of Westfir,
Oregon, was riding a 2008
Honda motorcycle when she
struck a bear that ran
out in front of her.
Harriger was treated by
medics at the scene, then
flown by AirLink
helicopter to St ...

The Guardian and a warning to WESTFIR OREGON: Jehovah´s Witnesses´ silencing techniques, as terrifying as child abuse

Growing up in a Jehovahs Witness family is different. As a child, I didnt celebrate birthdays, Christmas or July 4. Nor did I, or anyone I knew, mix with non-Witness families in Little League or Girl Scouts. Instead, I spent much of my time sharing the good news. I used to go door-to-door on my own with a big, strong, well liked man in my congregation, named Jonathan. I was just 9 and 10 when he repeatedly sexually abused me.

It is really hard for kids to speak up when theyre abused. But the Jehovahs Witnesses make it a lot harder.

They have a 2 Witness rule, which says that anyone who accuses an adult of abuse must have a second witness. If there is no second witness, the accuser is punished for a false accusation - usually by ordering that no Witness may talk with or associate with the false accuser. This is called dis-fellowshipping. For a kid raised only with other Witnesses, it was horrifying. Even your parents would have to ignore you. It was more terrifying than Jonathan.

It was the elders of my congregation who had assigned Jonathan to team up with me. When we separated from the others, he forced me into his pick-up truck and drove us to his house. Then he would say Lets play. It happened too many times. Like everyone else in the congregation, my parents liked Brother Jonathan and trusted him in our family.

My parents were consumed with some really huge problems in those years, and later divorced. I was emotionally alone - and wanted to be the best Jehovahs Witness I could be. Thats why I went out to field service - the door to door ministry that Witnesses are known for.

What my parents didnt know, was that Jonathan had sexually molested another girl in our congregation. The elders knew this and had kept it a secret. They were following orders from Watchtower leaders, based in the world headquarters in New York, who in 1989 had issued a top-secret instruction to keep known child sex abusers in the congregations a secret. This instruction became Exhibit 1 at my civil trial.

The elders and the Governing Body all knew that child molesters hide in religious groups and often are people who are likeable and friendly - like Jonathan. They knew molesters would likely do it again. But they chose to ignore the safety of the kids, in favor of protecting their image - and their bank account - from lawsuits. It was all in that 1989 letter.

A recent report by the Center for Investigative Reporting revealed that they have continued to issues directives urging silence around child abuse. Last November, elders were instructed to avoid taking criminal matters like child abuse to the authorities. Instead, they were told to handle them internally in confidential committees. The report also showed that Jehovahs Witnesses evoke the First Amendment to hide sex abuse claims.

It took me learning about Jonathans other victims for me to speak up. In 2009, I looked on Californias Megans Law website, the states official list of registered sex offenders. There, I found he had been convicted a few years before for sexually abusing another 8-year-old girl. I felt horribly guilty that I hadnt spoken up about him earlier. Now, I need to stop predators from doing this again.

The only way to end this abuse is by lifting this veil of secrecy once and for all.

In WESTFIR OREGON: Understanding Links Between Smoking & Weight

Maybe you quit smoking to do something good for your health, and now you’ve noticed the pounds adding up on the scale. Or maybe one of the reasons you’re not quite ready to quit is that you’re afraid of gaining weight.

Here are some of the reasons why some people gain weight when they quit:

Smoking lowers your appetite.
Smoking cigarettes makes you feel less hungry. So, when you quit smoking, you might feel hungrier and then eat more than you used to eat.

Smoking increases your metabolism.
Smoking cigarettes increases your metabolism, so you burn more calories. So when you stop smoking, you may burn fewer calories which can lead to weight gain.

Eating can be a substitute for smoking.
Smoking gave you something to do with your hands and something to put in your mouth. For a lot of people, food replaces cigarettes. And the more you reach for food, the more likely it is that you will gain weight.

Eating may soothe the feelings that smoking used to soothe.
Maybe smoking was your go-to when you were feeling bad. When you stop smoking, you may find that you turn to eating to feel better or to deal with stressbut this can backfire and result in weight gain.

The good news is that you can take charge of your weight even while quitting smoking. Check out Forever Free for more info about smoking and weight.

[15]

Avoiding Foreclosure in WESTFIR OREGON

The Obama Administration has implemented a number of programs to assist homeowners who are at risk of foreclosure and otherwise struggling with their monthly mortgage payments. The majority of these programs are administered through the U.S. Treasury Department and HUD. This page provides a summary of these various programs. Please continue reading in order to determine which program can best assist you.

Homeowners can lower their monthly mortgage payments and get into more stable loans at today's low rates. And for those homeowners for whom homeownership is no longer affordable or desirable, the program can provide a way out which avoids foreclosure. Additionally, in an effort to be responsive to the needs of today's homeowners, there are also options for unemployed homeowners and homeowners who owe more than their homes are worth. Please read the following program summaries to determine which program options may be best suited for your particular circumstances.

Modify or Refinance Your Loan for Lower Payments

Home Affordable Modification Program (HAMP): HAMP lowers your monthly mortgage payment to 31 percent of your verified monthly gross (pre-tax) income to make your payments more affordable. The typical HAMP modification results in a 40 percent drop in a monthly mortgage payment. Eighteen percent of HAMP homeowners reduce their payments by $1,000 or more. Click Here for more information.

Principal Reduction Alternative (PRA): PRA was designed to help homeowners whose homes are worth significantly less than they owe by encouraging servicers and investors to reduce the amount you owe on your home. Click Here for more information.

Second Lien Modification Program (2MP): If your first mortgage was permanently modified under HAMP SM and you have a second mortgage on the same property, you may be eligible for a modification or principal reduction on your second mortgage under 2MP. Likewise, If you have a home equity loan, HELOC, or some other second lien that is making it difficult for you to keep up with your mortgage payments, learn more about this MHA program. Click Here for more information.

Home Affordable Refinance Program (HARP): If you are current on your mortgage and have been unable to obtain a traditional refinance because the value of your home has declined, you may be eligible to refinance through HARP. HARP is designed to help you refinance into a new affordable, more stable mortgage. Click Here for more information.

“Underwater” Mortgages

In today's housing market, many homeowners have experienced a decrease in their home's value. Learn about these MHA programs to address this concern for homeowners.

Home Affordable Refinance Program (HARP): If you are current on your mortgage and have been unable to obtain a traditional refinance because the value of your home has declined, you may be eligible to refinance through HARP. HARP is designed to help you refinance into a new affordable, more stable mortgage. Click Here for more information.

Principal Reduction Alternative: PRA was designed to help homeowners whose homes are worth significantly less than they owe by encouraging servicers and investors to reduce the amount you owe on your home. Click Here for more information.

Treasury/FHA Second Lien Program (FHA2LP): If you have a second mortgage and the mortgage servicer of your first mortgage agrees to participate in FHA Short Refinance, you may qualify to have your second mortgage on the same home reduced or eliminated through FHA2LP. If the servicer of your second mortgage agrees to participate, the total amount of your mortgage debt after the refinance cannot exceed 115% of your home’s current value. Click Here for more information.

Assistance for Unemployed Homeowners

Home Affordable Unemployment Program (UP): If you are having a tough time making your mortgage payments because you are unemployed, you may be eligible for UP. UP provides a temporary reduction or suspension of mortgage payments for at least twelve months while you seek re-employment. Click Here for more information.

FHA Special Forbearance: If you are having difficulty making mortgage payments because you are unemployed and have no other sources of income, you may be eligible for FHA's Special Forbearance. FHA now requires servicers to extend the forbearance period, by offering a reduced or suspended mortgage payment for up to twelve months, for FHA borrowers who qualify for the program. Click Here for more information.

Managed Exit for Borrowers

Home Affordable Foreclosure Alternatives (HAFA): If your mortgage payment is unaffordable and you are interested in transitioning to more affordable housing, you may be eligible for a short sale or deed-in-lieu of foreclosure through HAFA SM. Click Here for more information.

“Redemption”is a period after your home has already been sold at a foreclosure sale when you can still reclaim your home. You will need to pay the outstanding mortgage balance and all costs incurred during the foreclosure process.

Contact Your Lender

If you are experiencing difficulties making your mortgage payments, you are encouraged to contact your lender or loan servicerdirectly to inquire about foreclosure prevention options that are available. If you are experiencing difficulty communicating with your mortgage lender or servicer about your need for mortgage relief, there are organizations that can help by contacting lenders and servicers on your behalf.

FHA staff are available to help answer your questions and assist you to better understand your options as an FHA borrower under these loss mitigation programs. There are several ways you can contact FHA for more information, including:

Call the National Servicing Center at (877) 622-8525

Call the FHA Outreach Center at 1-800-CALL FHA (800-225-5342)

Persons with hearing or speech impairments may access this number via TTY by calling the Federal Information Relay Service at (800) 877-8339.

If people in the media cannot decide whether they are in the business of reporting news or manufacturing propaganda,
it is all the more important that the public understand that difference,and choose their news sources accordingly.
Thomas Sowell